HONOLULU [May 9, 2012] The Honolulu City Council today passed Resolution 12-57 at its meeting in Windward Oahu. Introduced by Honolulu City Councilmember Tulsi Gabbard, the resolution urges the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to require labeling of genetically engineered (GE) food.
"After hearing overwhelming testimony in support, I am pleased that the Honolulu City Council has voted to urge the FDA to mandate labeling of genetically modified foods," said Gabbard. "This resolution is really about freedom and the consumers right to make informed choices. The FDA needs to uphold its responsibilities and make labeling a requirement for all genetically engineered foods."
Many U.S. Congressional leaders agree. A recent bipartisan letter sent to FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg calling on the agency to require the labeling of genetically engineered foods was signed by 55 Members of Congress, including U.S. Senator Dan Akaka.
Globally, more than 50 countries including Japan, China, Australia, and the countries of the European Union already require labeling of genetically engineered food.
According to the University of Hawaii's College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, 72% of Hawaii's residents feel it is very important that genetically modified fruit be labeled.
This year, 12 bills relating to genetically modified organisms (GMO) have been presented at the Hawaii State Legislature, however, none of the GMO-related bills made it to crossover this session.
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As a member of the Hawai'i National Guard, Tulsi Gabbard served two tours of duty in the Middle East. She was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for her service and currently serves as a Captain.
A Democrat, Tulsi was the youngest woman in America ever elected to a state legislature when in 2002 at the age of 21 she won a Hawai'i State House seat. Two years later, Tulsi sacrificed her position in the legislature to voluntarily join her fellow soldiers being deployed to a war zone in Iraq. Between her two deployments to the Middle East, Tulsi served as an aide to Senator Daniel Akaka in the U.S. Senate. In 2010, she was elected to the Honolulu City Council where she chairs the Safety, Economic Development, and Government Affairs committee. Gabbard is a candidate for Hawai`i's second congressional district encompassing rural Oahu and the Neighbor Islands. Learn more about Tulsi at www.votetulsi.com.
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